May 8, 2025

Spring Lupine at the Pine Bush Preserve

With more than four inches of rain over the past few days, most outdoor activities, including sporting events, were canceled. Several outdoor events took place last weekend despite showery weather. Western Turnpike Golf Course reopened today at noon but with heavy rain forecasted tonight and tomorrow, the already wet conditions might require a protective closing. More details are shared below.

I Love My Park Day

Town News & Announcements

Last Saturday’s "I Love My Park Day" was a resounding success, with volunteers helping to remove invasive plants like Oriental Bittersweet, Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose in Tawasentha and Abele Parks. About 8 truckloads of invasives and plant debris, like dead limbs and leaves, with an estimated weight of 1,850 pounds, were removed.

Caring for your Cemetery Day

The Caring For Your Cemetery Day on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Guilderland Cemetery was also very popular, with volunteers carefully cleaning numerous gravestones. A special note of thanks to Kathy Gaige for teaching volunteers on the proper cleaning method for centuries old gravestones. If you are interested in joining the next cleaning round, please email JenkinsD@togny.org and you will be added to our Cemetery Restoration email list.

May 12, 2025

On next Monday, May 12 at 10am at Town Hall, the Guilderland Garden Club is holding its monthly meeting, first a business meeting, followed by an 11am presentation by local bee keeper Jeff Taft on beekeeping and the importance of bees in agriculture, horticulture, and other industries. Bee populations, both locally and nationally, have experienced a significant decline due to climate change, pesticides, loss of habitat, and other factors. Mr. Taft will show his equipment, and share a taste of honey produced by his bees. Please pre-register by emailing Linda Miller at LAMiller416@gmail.com.

On next Thursday, May 15 at 1:30pm at the Guilderland Public Library, the Guilderland Historical Society is hosting City of Albany Historian Tony Opalka who will talk about the 150-year history of the Albany Fire Department from early bucket brigades, later volunteer companies, to the professional period that began in 1867 and remains today. Mr. Opalka is the author of a book The Firehouses of Albany, which combines history, anecdotes, extensive illustration, photographs, maps, and documents for nearly 400 years of firefighting in Albany.

Tee-Time

The Western Turnpike Golf Course, which was closed for a few days due to heavy rain, reopened today at noon, but with heavy rain forecasted tonight and tomorrow, please check the course’s website for up-to-date status. You can book a tee-time online, consider a membership, sign up for beginning and advanced lessons, and enjoy an outing at The Hedge Bistro.

A reminder that Parks & Rec has opened registration for its 2025 Summer Program which takes place this year from Monday, June 30 to Friday, August 8, with one-week half-day camps, swimming lessons, and dozens of sports and enrichment camps. The printed lime-colored 2025 brochures are available at Town Hall and the Park & Rec’s Office, and were delivered by back-pack mail at schools before the Spring break.

The Parks & Rec’s registration for Pickleball for Beginners is now full. Another indication that the sport is attracting new members, with additional courts to be installed at Keenholts Park this year.

Please remember that, in all Town parks and open spaces, dogs must be on a leash at all times. Your dog may be very friendly, but hikers and park patrons do not know that and the presence of an unleashed dog can be disconcerting. The exceptions to this rule are the Town’s two dog parks at Nott Road Park and behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.

The Town’s Senior Services Department’s May newsletter has information about classes and seminars, book discussions, tax preparation assistance, trips, medical and shopping transportation, next month’s book discussion, legal aide, monthly meal calendar, games, and much more. On Wednesdays from 11am to 12:30pm, the Guilderland Public Library is the home for Senior Connects!, where seniors can have a friendly chat on a wide-range of interesting topics.

The Town is accepting letters of interest and resumes from candidates for Police Officer, Telecommunicator/911 Dispatcher, and Laborer positions in the Highway, Parks and Water Departments.

Upcoming Meetings at Town Hall

The following is a list of dates and times for currently scheduled meetings of boards and committees at Town Hall over the next 30 days. Please check the Town’s calendars for the latest news about public meetings and community events, possible changes in agendas and cancellations, and the latest contents of agenda packets. Unless stated otherwise, each of the listed meetings start at 7pm, and are livestreamed on the Town website, Verizon channel 34, and Spectrum channel 1303. Within days of the meeting, an indexed recording, with links to each listed agenda item, is also posted online.

Conservation Advisory Committee

Monday, May 12 (cancelled)

Planning Board

Wednesday, May 14

Tree Preservation Committee

Thursday, May 15 at 2pm (neither taped nor broadcasted)

Town Board

Tuesday, May 20

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, May 21

Planning Board

Wednesday, May 28

Industrial Development Agency

Thursday, May 29

Town Board

Tuesday, June 3

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, June 4

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, June 9

Community Events & Resources

This Saturday’s season opening celebration at Keenholts Park for Guilderland Cal Ripken Baseball was cancelled due to the forecasted weather. You can learn more information about the league and its 2025 season schedule here.

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s calendar is full of outdoor events, including on this Sunday, May 11 from 8am to 11am, Bird Watching in Berne, a birding walk led by Dan Leonard to listen and look for birds on one of MHLC's conservation easement lands. It is the best time to see warblers and other migrating species. This event is hosted by the landowners who have kindly offered to provide bagels and coffee for the group.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s month-long Lupine Fest 2025 continues this week with special events to celebrate the blooming of the wild blue lupine with guided hikes, lupine walk, volunteer conservation opportunities, interactive exhibits, live music, wildlife encounters, and participating in conservation efforts. On Thursday, May 15 at 7pm, the Preserve is hosting a seminar entitled Butterfly and moth diversity in Preserve, when you can learn more about the high diversity of winged insects in the Preserve’s barrens habitats, highlight the species found in the Preserve, and explain how these species are managed and monitored to both protect them and to learn how management decisions are affecting the Preserve overall.

On Friday, May 16 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, A Night with the Arts will honor the legacy of renowned wildlife artist Wayne Trimm. Mr. Trimm was a frequent contributor to the Conservationist magazine. The ticketed evening will also feature the first public screening of Scorching Success, a short film that captures the Preserve’s transformative use of prescribed fire.

On Friday, May 30 from 4pm to 7:30pm, the Preserve is presenting "Nature Night Out", when the Pine Bush Discovery Center will have extended hours until 7:30pm to capitalize on longer sunlit hours. You can enjoy live music while dining on a meal from food truck vendors, go on a StoryWalk adventure along the trail, and learn about the natural & cultural history of the Pine Bush with interactive Discovery Center exhibits.

On Wednesday, June 25 at 7pm, you can join in National Butterfly Count Volunteer Training, a virtual seminar, when you can learn about butterfly habitat in the Preserve and how you can participate in the 2025 National Butterfly Count.

On Saturday, May 17 from 8am to 2pm, the Westmere Fire Department is hosting a Flea Market, with breakfast sandwiches, hamburgers and hotdogs, donuts, cookies, and ice cream. If you would like to participate as a vendor and sell your products at this event, you can email for information.

Please consider helping the Guilderland Food Pantry in its response to increasing food insecurity in our community with more than 196 monthly visits. You can make credit card, Venmo or cash donations, arrange for Amazon food deliveries, or drop off food donations at the Pantry. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the Pantry during regular hours or left in the collection bin located outside the Pantry at 4 Charles Boulevard. The Pantry is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 11:00am.

Tomorrow from Noon to 5pm at Town Hall, the Red Cross is having a blood drive. It is easy to schedule an appointment online or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. The Red Cross is offering donors a $20 e-gift card and a chance to win USA trip of your choice.

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor